Dalai Lama Plans Return To S. Florida

The Dalai Lama was such a hit last time that South Floridians could not wait to get him back.

The Tibetan Buddhist leader was invited by presidents of six South Florida colleges, plus leaders of several Buddhist groups. The result: another visit after less than six years.

Nova Southeastern University in Davie, where the Dalai Lama spoke in 2004, will be the first venue Feb. 23.

The next day, he will make his first visit to Palm Beach County, where he is to speak about global compassion and peace at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

That afternoon, he is to return to Davie for a meeting with presidents of South Florida's colleges and universities at Broward College.

Revered as a reincarnated Tibetan ruler, the Dalai Lama has lived in exile for five decades in Dharamsala, India, since Chinese forces occupied the Himalayan nation.

"People still come up and thank us for the chance to see him in 2004," Ray Ferrero Jr., chancellor of NSU, said Wednesday.

This will be the Dalai Lama's third visit to South Florida. He spoke at Florida International University in Miami in 1999 and in 2004. The latter visit lasted five days, including talks at FIU, NSU, the Office Depot Center and the University of Miami.

Three days after the Dalai Lama visits in February, NSU will host Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu.